Students

Graduate Advising

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All students are assigned an advisor when they are admitted to the program. The graduate director seeks to match students to faculty with whom they share interests. This determination is based on your application in which you discuss your interests in anthropology, why you wish to come to UCD, and your long-term career goals. This is an initial assignment, and you are under no obligation to continue with this advisor if you develop a relationship with another faculty member. If you wish to change advisors, simply write a note or e-mail to that effect and send it to the Graduate Program Director, and to both your existing and new advisors. You should always first discuss such a change with the faculty member whom you would like to be your new advisor, as they must agree to take on this role.

Who is the Graduate Program Director?

The Graduate Program Director is responsible for administering the graduate program, which includes managing applications for admission, comprehensive exams, graduate course scheduling, teaching assistantships, graduation related forms, and other program-wide issues. If you need to discuss any of these issues or anything related to the graduate program overall, please contact him. The Graduate Program Director is Dr. Tammy Stone. Her e-mail address is: tammy.stone@ucdenver.edu. While the Graduate Program Director is responsible for issues relating to the program overall and its connections to the University, you will usually go to your individual advisor for any questions relating to your specific situation.

What do individual advisors do?

Your advisor serves as your personal counselor and guide through the graduate program. S/he will make suggestions regarding coursework, elective courses within and outside the department, and, ultimately, assist you in the selection of a thesis topic, should you choose the thesis option. Your advisor will also work with you in deciding whether the thesis option is right for you. The advisor can also provide guidance with regard to difficulties you may be having in the program, career planning, or selecting graduate schools for PhD study. Finally, your advisor will sign off on most of the major documents needed to graduate from the program.

When should you meet with your advisor?

Graduate students should visit with their advisors regularly to discuss their progress, talk over course schedules, and in general, to let them know how they are doing.